Community Corner
Meet the Zoo: Prospect Park's Newest Furry Family
If you like meerkats, you'll love the dwarf mongoose family.
If meerkats are your favorite animal at the Prospect Park Zoo, you may be giving them a second thought once you see the zoo’s newest family, the dwarf mongoose.
It was an exciting day for all zoo staff when the mongoose family was brought in from the Central Park Zoo to their newly refurbished exhibit in the Animal Adaptations area. Formerly housing gila monsters (who have been moved to Central Park Zoo for exhibit there), the exhibit was completely renovated with a custom painted mural of the Tanzania grasslands, part of their native range in Africa. Keepers placed the little sky kennel in the exhibit and opened the door; then everyone stood at the glass and waited.
Suddenly, one little face peeked out. It was Dad, who emerged first and scouted the territory for safety. Then, three of the youngsters scurried out and ran around their new home, exploring the rockwork, digging in the sand and looking curiously at the crowd outside. Finally, Mom and the last youngster poked their heads out of the door and cautiously came out of the kennel.
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Like their cousins, the meerkats, dwarf mongoose are highly social animals living in cooperative family groups. Visitors will enjoy their busy behavior, digging under rocks, popping in and out of crevices and even coming close to the window to make their own observations. Once the family has settled in, keepers will provide them with similar enrichment as the meerkats. A favorite is a bundle of hay loaded with crickets which encourages natural foraging behavior.
The Wildlife Conservation Society has been working in the dwarf mongoose range since the 1950’s on projects involving training, research, monitoring, institutional support, education, and reforestation. In addition, WCS has played a key role in the creation of national parks and has been responsible for the discovery of new animal species in different regions of Africa. Come visit the dwarf mongoose at Prospect Park Zoo; adorable animal ambassadors from an amazing continent.
